Google News Hobart International: Seeds Elise Mertens, Alize Cornet and Magda Linette exit in R32
by ABBEY JOHNSON
Elise Mertens and Alize Cornet, the second and third seed respectively at the Hobart International crashed out in the opening round on Tuesday. Maryna Zanevska defeated Mertens while Elisabetta Cocciaretto ousted Cornet. The all-Belgian clash between Zanevska and Mertens saw the former win 6-4, 6-4 in an hour and 55 minutes.
Zanevska who qualified for the main draw, saved eight of the 11 break points she faced while converting five of the 12 break-point opportunities she had on Mertens’ serve. Zanevska also won 63% points on return on Mertens’ second serve.
Hobart International: Big names falter
Zanevska will now face Sofia Kenin in the second round. The American got the better of Lin Zhu 6-2, 6-2 in their first-round clash in an hour and 17 minutes. Kenin saved one of the two break points she faced while converting five of the 11 break points that came her way.
Cocciaretto needed an hour and 26 minutes to pocket a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Cornet. Both players won around 63% of first-serve points. The Italian, however, won 50% of her second-serve points and 68% points on return on the Frenchwoman’s serve.
Although Cocciaretto lost her serve twice in the match, she also made good of five of the nine break points she had on Cornet’s serve. Cocciaretto’s next clash will be a derby against compatriot, Jasmine Paolini.
Another Belgian, Alison Van Uytvanck posted an upset of her own in the first round. Van Uytvanck ousted seventh seed Magda Linette 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 in two hours and four minutes. She will now play Xinyu Wang. Sixth seed Bernarda Pera came through an American derby against Madison Brengle, 6-4, 6-4.
Pera needed 74 minutes to get the win. Laura Siegemund will be Pera’s next rival. Yulia Putintseva, the eighth seed also took her place in the second round following a 6-2, 6-4 win over Claire Liu. The Kazakh will take on Nuria Parrizas Diaz.
The Spanish qualifier got past Mayar Sherif 2-6, 6-2, 6-1 in their first-round clash. Lastly, Anna Blinkova and Ysaline Bonaventure also advanced to the second round of the Hobart International. Blinkova defeated Lucia Bronzetti 6-4, 6-3 while Bonaventure won against Tamara Zidansek 6-7(2), 6-2, 6-2. Blinkova’s next opponent will be top seed, Marie Bouzkova. The Belgian will play Lauren Davis.